NPIPM:Periplaneta americana
Authors: Ashley Mueller, Buyung Hadi
Cockroaches are a very common insect, and they can be an invader of homes and buildings. They are medically important pests, and their presence indoors is a concern because they can cause health problems. They are able to transmit various diseases that affect the human digestive system. Cockroach legs and bodies easily spread disease-causing organisms to food, utensils, and surfaces.
Cockroaches undergo three developmental stages: egg, nymph, and adult. The nymphs often resemble the adults, but they are smaller in size. Cockroaches are highly adaptable to their surroundings. They are able to survive for a period of time without food and water. Active during the night, their flat bodies allow them to easily hide in cracks and crevices during the day. Determining the extent of cockroach presence is an important step in managing an infestation.
Identification
Adult American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) are 1 to 1 1/2 inches in length. The body is shiny, and it is reddish-brown in color with yellowish edges on the upper side of the thorax. Both male and female adult American cockroaches have wings, and they are capable of gliding flights.
Habitat
Natural habitats for the American cockroach includes generally moist areas, like leaf litter, under bark, and in caves and burrows. These cockroaches can be found all over the world, from tropical to temperate climates. They prefer temperatures between 70oF and 85oF, and they are unable to survive if the temperature drops below 15oF. In the winter months, they may move indoors seeking warmth and moisture. American cockroaches are active at night, and during the day they hide in cracks and crevices.
Life Cycle and Seasonal History
Mated female American cockroaches lay small egg capsules, called oothecae, containing about 15 eggs near a food source or a protected area . Hatched nymphs look like adult cockroaches, but they are grayish-brown in color and do not have fully developed wings. Over approximately 18 months, nymphs will molt 10 to 13 times before becoming adults.
Adult American cockroaches can live approximately a year to a year and a half, with the females living longer than the males. Females can survive nearly six weeks without food or water, and they can survive with only water nearly three months. Males can survive almost a month without food and water, and they can survive with only water for nearly six weeks.
Human Interaction and Urban Impact
American cockroaches are not only a nuisance, they are pests that cause health concern. They primarily infest sewers, steam heat tunnels, urban landfills, and large institutional buildings. Indoors, American cockroaches are commonly found in damp places like cellars and basements as well as on the top floors of large buildings. Their flattened bodies allow them to pass through cracks around windows and doors and along a building’s foundation. They eat a variety of foods: meats and grease, sweets, baked goods, starchy foods, wallpaper paste, cosmetics, book bindings, and leather.
American cockroaches can transmit various diseases that affect the human digestive system, such as diarrhea and dysentery. Bacteria, protozoa, and viruses have been found on cockroaches and in their gut. Cockroach legs and bodies spread disease-causing organisms to food, utensils, and surfaces. American cockroaches also produce allergens on their bodies and in their feces, and they may be a potential cause of childhood asthma and allergic dermatitis.
American cockroaches produce a strong, offensive odor that is detectable in infested buildings. Cockroaches transfer the odor onto various surfaces and objects by crawling. The presence of the odor may be helpful in determining an infestation.
Prevention and Management Approaches
It is very important to use good sanitation practices in the kitchen and other areas of the home where food is prepared and served to prevent cockroach infestation. Clean spilled foods from surfaces; do not leave dirty dishes overnight; and store food in well-lidded containers. Food should be stored in containers with tight-fitting lids.
Prevent cockroaches from entering the home or building by sealing around windows and doors and by caulking cracks around pipes and other cracks on ground-level walls.
Cockroach management starts with surveying and monitoring. Sticky traps placed in strategic locations should provide some information on the extent of the infestation. Place traps against a wall, in corners and drawers, and along shelves and counters. Many commercially available traps contain baits to attract cockroaches. If monitoring reveals heavy harborage areas, baiting is an effective control method against cockroaches. Check the traps frequently and replace as necessary.
Vacuuming cockroaches using a crevice attachment may be a good option. Discard the vacuum contents after use, and it’s recommended to seal the contents in plastic bag to prevent escapes by those cockroaches that survived the vacuuming process.
The use of aerosol foggers to control cockroaches within a building is not effective. The application of aerosol foggers may disperse the cockroaches further into the structure, resulting in more difficult control. If an insecticide is used to control cockroaches, always use precaution and follow the label carefully before using. Insecticides have a certain amount of toxicity to mammals; children and pets are especially at risk.
Other Online Resources
Virginia Cooperative Extension
For information regarding labels of chemical control options, please visit NPIC MAPL
